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Description: ALFA ROMEO SZ/RZ Used Car History reviews and guide on classic and older model
cars. Including car designers from Italy and Germany. Learn history of
cars from classic, exotic, used, new to prototype model cars.

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ALFA
ROMEO SZ/RZ (1989-1994) CAR HISTORY

Car
review on ALFA ROMEO SZ/RZ

Italians coined a new phrase to describe the amazing Alfa
Romeo SZ: "II Mostro", or The Monster, and it is easy to see
why. In no way could the bodywork be described as handsome, but if you
were looking to make a visual impact then this Alfa super car was king.
Although Alfa Romeo announced the birth of this amazing new model under
its internal type designation of ES30, production cars were known as SZ.

The design house responsible for the SZ was Zagato, which has always had
a strong association with Alfa Romeo. Zagato also produced the SZ for
Alfa at its Milanese factory. The time it took for Zagato to develop and
produce the SZ was a remarkably short two years. To make the bodies, Zagato
elected to use plastic composites (a mixture of thermosetting resins and
glassfibre), mounted on a steel chassis. The result may have looked spectacularly
ugly but it was surprisingly aerodynamic: its Cd (co-efficient of drag)
figure of 0.30 was superior to that of many oilier cars.

Underneath that extraordinary coupe-body shell was basically the mechanical
package from the racing version of the Alfa Romeo 75, including its layout
of longitudinal engine, rear transaxle and rear-wheel drive. The familiar
Alfa 3.0-litre V-six engine was given even more power thanks to integrated
fuel injection/ignition systems, new camshafts and modified manifolding.
Maximum power was now up to 207 bhp.

Since the SZ weighed only 28221b (1280kg), performance was deeply impressive:
a top speed of over 152 mph (245 kph) and 0-62 mph (0-lOO kph) in only seven
seconds was quoted. The SZ was quite capable of handling all this power
thanks to its sophisticated suspension and asymmetric Pirelli P- Zero
tires. One interesting feature was hydraulic adjustment for the real-suspension,
which was occasionally needed to overcome ramps and other obstructions
because ground clearance was just 2.4in (6cm).

Inside, the Alfa 75 driver would have felt immediately at home, since
the instruments and much of the switchgear came from this humble saloon
(sedan). Luxury was not overlooked, though, as standard equipment included
leather seats and electric windows.

At the end of 1992, the SZ was joined by an open-topped model called the
RZ. This was more than just a roofless version of the SZ, as it incorporated
a number of detail changes like a shorter front spoiler, thinner body
panels, lower windscreen and reshaped sills. The chassis was considerably
stiffened to compensate for the loss of the roof, and in consequence its
weight went up by 220lb (100kg).
As planned, Zagato built just over 1000 examples of this exceptional sport
scar, despite the fact that Alfa Romeo had received 1600 orders for the
model, almost before it had even been seen by the public. An additional
241 copies of the RZ drop-top model were made in 1992-3. That means the
SZ and RZ will always be among the rarest and most sought-after Alfa Romeos
of all.

Site
Description: ALFA ROMEO SZ/RZ Used Car History reviews and guide on classic and older model cars.
Including car designers from Italy and Germany. Learn history of cars
from classic, exotic, used, new to prototype model cars.